The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race was the 27th running of NASCAR's special non-points race involving winners of the 2010 and 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races through the 2011 FedEx 400 as well as Sprint All-Star Race 2001–2010 winners, when the event was known as "The Winston" and the "Nextel All-Star Challenge", and past Sprint Cup champions from the decade covering 2001 to 2010, including the "Winston Cup" (2001–2003) and "Nextel Cup" (2004–2007) eras. The event was run at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Charlotte, North Carolina suburb of Concord on May 21, 2011. Speed provided television coverage in the United States while MRN (over-the-air/terrestrial) and Sirius XM Radio (satellite) had radio rights. Race format The format of the race was similar to the 2010 event, broken down as follows: Segment One - One fifty-lap segment, with a mandatory four-tire green flag pit stop after Lap 25; Segment Two - One twenty-lap segment, after which pits were open - drivers could opt to have a pit stop, but could sacrifice their position on the track should they choose to do so. Segment Three - Another twenty-lap segment; 10-Minute Break period - all cars were allowed to make any adjustments/fuel-except tires; All cars left the pit after the ten-minute break period, took the green flag, then re-entered the pits for a mandatory four-tire green flag pit stop. Segment Four - A final ten-lap green flag segment. The qualifying session for eligible drivers consisted of three laps instead of the standard two, including a pit stop after either of the first two laps, slowing to the speed limit of 45 mph entering pit road, but going full throttle as they exit. Eligible drivers The following drivers qualified for the race in these categories: Past Series Champion drivers The following five drivers fit into the Past Champions category: 14-Tony Stewart (Three-time series champion, most recently 2011) 22-Kurt Busch (2004 series champion; also defending race champion) 17-Matt Kenseth (2003 series champion) 24-Jeff Gordon (Four-time series champion, most recently 2001) 5-Jimmie Johnson (Seven-time series champion, most recently 2016) Past All-Star race-winning drivers The following four drivers are eligible as a past winner of the event in the last decade: 4-Kasey Kahne (Sprint All-Star Race XXIV winner) 29-Kevin Harvick (Sprint All-Star Race XXIII winner) 25-Mark Martin (Sprint All-Star Race XXI winner) 39-Ryan Newman (Sprint All-Star Race XVIII winner) 2010 or 2011